Advanced PCI Express Board Assembly

ABSTRACT

An advanced PCI Express board assembly is intended for efficiently placing more electronic components or modules having a large height (up to 8.57 mm) in comparison with traditional PCI Express add-in boards. This assembly comprises two PCBs connected together. The first one has the minimum possible sizes. This PCB includes a PCI Express male edge connector and is intended to be plugged in to motherboard female PCI Express connector. The second PCB is parallel to first one and is located in the middle of the space (slot) defined for one add-in PCI Express board. This position makes possible to place high electronic components or modules on the both sides (top and bottom) of the second PCB.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This is the first application filed for the present invention.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to the field of high-performance computer technology and, in particular, to add-in PCI Express Boards intended for a compact arrangement the large numbers of high electronic components or modules.

BACKGROUND

Today there is a class of the PCI Express boards that dedicated for the multichannel wireless communication market. The main feature of these boards is that these boards are using different wireless modules or blocks located on the PCB surface. The most of these wireless modules are implemented in a MiniPCI Express or M.2 form factor.

The wireless modules itself or wireless modules in MiniPCI Express or M.2 form factor are significantly higher than any standard electronic components that can be placed on the PCI Express board PCB.

The PCI Express add-in board specification limits the height of the components that can be placed on each side of the PCB. The maximum height of components on the primary component side (top) of the PCI Express add-in card can't exceed 14.47 mm, and the maximum height of components on the back side (bottom) of the PCI Express add-in card can't exceed 2.67 mm (according to PCI Express Specification). These requirements essentially limit the possibility of using the bottom side of the PCI Express board for high electronic components or wireless modules placement.

The development road map of modern personal computers (motherboards) demonstrates direction to reduce the quantity of PCI Express sockets for connection add-in PCI Express boards. The most popular motherboards have one or two x16 PCI Express connectors. As the result the number of add-in PCI Express boards that can be connected to the motherboard decreases.

Therefore, the efficient of the PCI Express board surface utilization and increasing a number of electronic components or electronic modules on the PCI Express board are becoming one of the first priorities.

The well known way to increase the number of electronic components or electronic modules on the PCI Express add-in board is using so-called daughter boards that mechanically and electrically are connected to the PCI Express add-in board. These daughter boards are located in parallel to the add-in PCI Express boards and mount on the top side of them.

U.S. Pat. Application 20140365714 (P. Sweere, et al) represented an additional daughter-card (PCB), on which additional electronic components are located. Said daughter PCB is located in parallel to the add-in PCI Express board. The total height of the components that are located on the top surface of the PCI Express add-in board together with daughter board components and the thickness of a printed board of said daughter board can't exceed the value of 14.47 mm. that is defined by PCI Express Specification. The said daughter board is connected to main add-in PCI Express board via “a flash daughter-card connector”.

U.S. Pat. No. 8,639,863 (P. Kanapathippillai, et al.) proposed to use multiple daughter board located on the top side of the PCI Express add-in board in two layers. The total height of the components from the top surface of the PCI Express add-in board including daughter board components and daughter board PCB thickness can't exceed the value of 14.47 mm. Therefore, the height of said components that are located between top surface of the PCI Express add-in board and bottom surface of the daughter board and height of the components on the to surface of the daughter board are significantly limited.

Solution with daughter board has four main disadvantages. First, the air flow between daughter boards and PCI Express add-in board is limited, and the placement of electrical components that can generate significant amount of heat between daughter board and PCI Express add-in board (top side) is not possible.

Second, the tradition PCI Express add-in board with daughter board on the top side can't utilize the 2.67 mm. space on the bottom side of the PCI Express add-in board for high electronic components or modules placement (like transformers, relays, capacitors etc.).

Third disadvantage consists in that by using any additional daughter board the maximum height of the electronic components that can be located on the top side of the PCI Express board is reduced by the value equal to the daughter board thickness. And the resulting maximum height is divided by daughter board. That makes impossible to install electronic components with the height more than 4 mm.

Fourth disadvantage is that all known standard solutions with daughter boards cannot be used for the placement of multiple replaceable modules (for example wireless modules in MiniPCI Express or M.2 form factor that can have height more than 6 mm.). But even if the modules are placed between daughter board and PCI Express add-in board, they will become not accessible for replacement.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The first aspect of the present invention consists in that the offered Advanced PCI Express board assembly allows significantly increasing the number of high electronic components or modules of height up to 8.57 mm compare to traditional PCI Express add-in board.

The next aspect of the present invention consists in that the proposed assembly allows placing said large electronic components or modules on the both sides of the PCB, that is located in the middle of the maximum space that PCI Express specification reserves for one-slot PCI Express add-in boards.

The third aspect of the present invention consists in that the offered assembly increases an efficiency of the air flow cooling by allowing placing high components or modules on both sides of the PCB.

The fourth aspect of the present invention consists in that said assembly represents wide opportunity of using exchangeable male edge PCI Express connectors corresponding to x1, x2, x4, x8 or x16 lanes. This architecture allows plugging proposed PCI Express assembly in to different motherboard female PCI Express connectors.

The next aspect consists in that there is no restriction for the thickness of the PCB on which a high components are placed, because this PCB not intend to be plugged into PCI Express female connector. The thickness of this PCB can be increased to prevent PCB twisting because of the PCB length and heavily components installation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIGS. 1A-1B show the proposed Advanced PCI Express board assembly inserted in to motherboard PCI Express female connector; FIG. 1A represents a top side view of said assembly; FIG. 1B represents a sectional view executed along line A-A of said advanced PCI Express board assembly.

FIGS. 2A-2B show the proposed Advanced PCI Express board assembly; FIG. 2A represents a top side view of said assembly; FIG. 2B represents a sectional view executed along line A-A of said advanced PCI Express board assembly shown on FIG. 2A.

FIG. 3A shows a cross view of the traditional add-in PCI Express board with restricted height of components based on the PCI Express Specification.

FIG. 3B shows a cross view of the proposed Advanced PCI Express board assembly with restricted height of components based on the PCI Express Specification.

FIG. 4 shows the proposed Advanced PCI Express board assembly together with components installed on the both sides of the Main board.

FIG. 5A-5C show examples of the Adapter board together with means for mechanical and electrical connection to the Main board.

FIG. 6 shows an example of the Main board together with means for mechanical and electrical connection to the Adapter board.

FIG. 7 shows the diagram of electrical signal connections between the Main board and the Adapter board.

DETAIL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1A represents a view of the proposed Advanced PCI Express board assembly 1 inserted into female PCI Express connector 3 that is located on a computer system board 2, for example, a motherboard. The proposed Advanced PCI Express board assembly (FIG. 1B) consists of the Main board 6, the Adapter board 5 and means for electrical and mechanical connection 4 of said Main board 6 and Adapter board 5. For electrical connection of said Adapter board 5 and Main board 6 can be used one or more connectors. For additional mechanical stabilization can be used spacers, that can be fixed on the Adapter and/or Main board via solder, glue, screws etc. The connection between said Adapter board and said Main board can be permanent when there is no possibility to disconnect both boards after assembly or, on the contrary, both boards can be disconnected after assembly.

FIG. 2A represents a top side view of the Advanced PCI Express board assembly wherein the male edge PCI Express connector 7 located on the Adapter board 5. Said male edge PCI Express connector 7 is intended for connecting to the PCI Express interface connector 3 of the motherboard 2.

FIG. 3A shows the cross view of the traditional PCI Express board 8 inserted into PCI Express connector 3 that is located on the motherboard 2. FIG. 3A shows the height restriction for components that are located on the top and bottom sides of the PCB 8. The value a1 shows the maximum height of components on the bottom side of the PCB defined by PCI Express specification, and it is equal to 2.67 mm. The value a2 shows the maximum height of components on the top side of the PCB defined by PCI Express specification, and it is equal to 14.47 mm. The value a3 represents the size of the space reserved for one-slot PCI Express add-in board by PCI Express specification, and it is equal to 18.71 mm.

FIG. 3B shows the cross view of the proposed Advanced PCI Express board assembly. A value a4 shows the maximum height of components on the top side of the Main board 6 when Main board 6 located in the middle of the space that is reserved for one-slot PCI Express add-in board by PCI Express specification. A value a5 shows the maximum height of components on the bottom side of the Main board 6. The value of a5 and a4 is equal to 8.57 mm.(in case the thickness of the Main board 6 is 1.57 mm.). The most electronic components like transformers, capacitors, ICs with heat sinks, relays, modules etc. have height less than 8.57 mm. but higher than 4 mm. These components can be assembled on the top and bottom sides of the Main board 6 without violation of PCI Express specification. In actual practice said values a4=d±b and a5=d−(±b), where d=8.57 mm. and b is several times smaller than d. Where said value “b” is chosen based on the actual size of used components and structural elements.

FIG. 4 shows the proposed Advanced PCI Express board assembly together with components 9 assembled on the both sides of the Main board 6 (top view). The area of the Adapter board 5 has to be as minimum as possible to maximize efficiency of the high components placement 9. On FIG. 4 the Adapter board 5 has said male edge PCI Express connector 7 (FIG. 2A) and means for electrical and mechanical connection to Main board 6. Values a4 and a5 are shown on the FIG. 4.

On the FIG. 4 is shown a PCI Express bracket 10 that is installed on the Main board 6. The PCI Express bracket 10 can be mounted on the Main board 6 via tabs located in the middle of said bracket. PCI Express bracket can be mounting on the IO connectors allocated on the front edge of the Main board 6 as well (not shown).

FIGS. 5A-5C show examples of said Adapter board for the different size of the motherboard female PCI Express connectors. The PCI Express interface can be one lane (x1), 2 lanes (x2), 4 lanes (x4), 8 lanes (x8), or 16 lanes (x16) wide. The PCI Express connector has different length depending on the numbers of supporting lanes. Each PCI Express connector is divided into 2 sections: a front section 14 that includes low speed control signals and power, and communication sections 13, 17, 18 that includes high-speed differential communication signals.

The FIG. 5A shows the example of the Adapter board 5 having x1 male edge PCI Express connector. The communication section 13 is very small and includes in this case only 3 differential signal pairs. The FIG. 5B shows the example of the Adapter board 5 having x8 male edge PCI Express connector. The communication section 17 in this case is longer and includes 14 additional differential signal pairs compared to x1 connector. The FIG. 5C shows the example of Adapter board 5 having x16 male edge PCI Express connector. The communication section 18 in this case is longer than in x8 PCI Express connector and includes 30 differential signal pairs compared to x1 connector. In all said cases the front sections 14 are exactly the same mechanically and electrically.

The FIG. 5A shows an example of means for electrical and mechanical connection of the Adapter board 5 (x1 PCI Express connector) and the Main board 6 (FIG. 6) located on the Adapter board 5. Said means include two connectors 12, 11 and mounting hole 15. The size of the connector 12 and 11 is chosen based on the number of signals between Adapter board 5 and Main board 6 (FIG. 6). The front connector 12 is used for the connection low speed signals and power signals from front section of the PCI Express connector 14. The connector 11 is used for the connection of high speed signals from the communication section of PCI Express connector 13.

The FIG. 5B shows an example of means for electrical and mechanical connection of the Adapter board 5 (x8 PCI Express connector) and the Main board 6 (FIG. 6) located on the Adapter board 5. Said means include two connectors 12, 16 and the mounting hole 15. Connector 16 in this case has more pins compare to similar connector 11 on FIG. 5A.

The FIG. 5C shows an example of means for electrical and mechanical connection of the Adapter board 5 (x16 PCI Express connector) and the Main board 6 (FIG. 6) located on the Adapter board 5. Said means include two connectors 12, 19 and mounting hole 15. Said connector 19 in this case includes all signals from the x16 PCI express connector 18. The connector 19 can be split to multiple smaller connectors (not shown).

The FIG. 6 shows the bottom side of the Main board 6 where means for connection of Adapter board 5 (not shown) and Main board 6 are placed. These means include two connectors 20, 21 and a spacer 22.

The height of the spacer 22 and type of the connectors 20, 21, 12, 19, 16, 11 that located on the Adapter and Main boards define the space between Adapter board and Main board and is equal to t±c, where t=4.33 mm. and c is several times smaller than t. Where said value “c” is chosen based on the actual size of used components and structural elements that are located on the Main board 6. This distance places Main board 6 in the middle of the space reserved for one-slot PCI Express add-in board by PCI Express specification.

When the Main board 6 and the Adapter board 5 are assembled together the front connector 20 on the FIG. 6 will mate to connector 12 on the Adapter board 5 (FIG. 5A-5C). The high speed signal connector 21 will mate to said high speed signal connector on the Adapter board that supports the same number of lanes as the Main board 6. For example, if Main board 6 supports 16 lanes, then any Adapter board can be connected to said Main board, and the connector 21 will mate with one of connectors 13, 17 or 18 (FIGS. 5A-5C). In case when said Main board supports one lane PCI Express interface then only Adapter board 5 (FIG. 5A) that has x1 PCI Express connector can be connected to the Main board 6, and the connector 21 will mate only with connector 13 (FIG. 5A).

The spacer 22 can be soldered, glued or fix by screw on the bottom side of the Main board 6. In this case when the Main board 6 assembled with the Adapter board 5 together they can be additionally (to the join connectors) mechanically fastened together by a screw that can be tighten via mounting hole 15 (FIGS. 5A-5C) to said spacer 22 (FIG. 6).

The location of the spacer 22 (FIG. 6) and the mounting hole 15 (FIGS. 5A-5C) is chosen in the place where is no signals on the Adapter board 5 (FIGS. 5A-5C) and PCBs of said Boards have a space for the hole. This area is located close to the PCB cut-out of said male edge PCI Express connector.

FIG. 7 shows the diagram of an electrical connection between the Main board 6 and the Adapter board 5. The Motherboard female PCI Express connector 3 located on the motherboard 2 (FIG. 1A). A male edge PCI Express connector 7 is located on the Adapter board 5 and is intend to be plug in to the motherboard female PCI Express connector 3. A code generator 26 creates the code that defines the size of the male edge PCI Express connector 7 that is located on the Adapter board 5 and this code is defined during Adapter board 5 production. The Adapter board 5 has means for electrical and mechanical connection 23. These means 23 are intended for connection to the means for electrical and mechanical connection 24 located on the Main board 6 when both Adapter and Main boards assembled together. A PCI Express interface circuit 25 is located on the Main board 6. The PCI Express interface circuit 25 can be implemented for example as a PCI Express switch or a PCI Express bridge. The upstream PCI Express port of PCI Express circuit 25 connects to PCI Express root complex (not shown) located on the motherboard board 2 via buses 32, 33, 28, 27, means for electrical and mechanical connection 23, 24 and PCI Express connectors 7, 3.

The code from the code generator 26 via signals 29, 30, 31 connects to the PCI Express interface circuit 25 and setup the PCI Express interface circuit 25 operation based on the lane number that the Adapter board 5 supports. This code allows changing operations of the PCI Express circuit 25, which includes the upstream port, in case when the number of lanes that connect to the motherboard PCI Express root complex (not shown) is decreased by the Adapter board 5. 

We claim:
 1. An advanced PCI Express board assembly compliant with the PCI Express Specification and intended for using in a computerized system, comprising: a motherboard with at least one PCI Express slot and female PCI Express connector mounted on said motherboard inside said slot; said assembly, comprising an Adapter Board, Main Board, means for mechanical connection and means for electrical connection of said Adapter Board and said Main Board, and wherein said means for mechanical connection are located between said Adapter and Main boards and keep said Adapter and Main boards in parallel at a predetermined distance; said assembly, wherein said Adapter Board comprising a male edge PCI Express connector intended for connection said Adapter Board to said motherboard female PCI Express connector; said assembly, wherein said Main Board comprising a PCI Express interface circuit including a PCI express upstream port and wherein said upstream port is electrically coupled directly to said Adapter Board male edge PCI Express connector; said assembly, wherein said means for electrical connection include all necessary electrical signals for communication between said Main Board and said motherboard via said Adapter Board and wherein said electrical signals include signals of said PCI Express upstream port; said assembly, wherein said Main board and said Adapter board occupy the space that is not more than the maximum space defined by PCI Express specification for one slot add-in PCI Express board and wherein said predetermined distance between said Adapter Board and said Main Board is chosen to provide maximum possible and approximately equal spaces for the components that can be installed on the top and bottom sides of said Main Board;
 2. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for mechanical connection of said Main Board and said Adapter Board providing a rigid connection of said Boards and secured said Main Board approximately in the middle of a PCI Express slot, wherein said PCI Express slot is the maximum space defined by PCI Express specification for one slot add-in PCI Express board.
 3. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for mechanical connection of said Main Board and said Adapter Board can be made in the form of one of the following types: (1) not demountable by using of glue or solder; (2) demountable by using one or more the following means, chosen from the group, including: a stackable connector, a mechanical spacer, a screw, a clamp, any combinations of said connectors, spacers, screws, clamps.
 4. The assembly according to claim 3, wherein at least one of said mechanical means can be located on a line that passes approximately via the center line of the mechanical key cut-out on said Adapter Board PCI Express male edge connector and can be fasten on said Adapter Board and said Main Board with the help of glue, screw or clamp.
 5. The assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a bracket fastened to said Main Board and/or to said Adapter Board and intended'for mechanically stabilization of said assembly inside said PCI Express slot.
 6. The assembly according to claim 5, wherein said bracket can be fastened to said Main Board directly by using one or more bracket tabs or said bracket can be fastened to one or more edge mounted input/output connectors located on the front side of said Main Board.
 7. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said means for electrical connection of said Main Board and said Adapter Board are chosen from the following; one or more connectors or wires.
 8. The assembly according to claim 7, wherein said means for electrical connection, such as connectors, may be used as the means for mechanical connection.
 9. The assembly according to claim 1, wherein said PCI Express upstream port of said PCI Express interface circuit can support 1 lane, 2 lanes, 4 lanes, 8 lanes, or 16 lanes connection and wherein said means for electrical connection of said Main board and Adapter board can include all supported PCI Express upstream port lanes or reduced the number of said lanes.
 10. The assembly according to claim 9, wherein said male edge PCI Express connector of said Adapter Board can support 1 lane, 2 lanes, 4 lanes, 8 lanes, or 16 lanes connection; wherein said Adapter board comprising electrical circuit for code generation according to the number of supporting PCI express lanes by said male edge PCI Express connector and wherein said electrical circuit is connected to said PCI Express interface circuit via said means for electrical connection to configured said PCI Express interface circuit and said PCI Express upstream port. 